Sony at a glance
Sony is a Japanese electronics company that became a major camera maker after it took over the camera business of Konica Minolta in 2006. It made the first full-frame mirrorless cameras with interchangeable lenses, the α7 and α7R of 2013, and its E-mount Alpha system is now one of the most widely used. Sony also makes image sensors used by many other camera and phone makers.
History
2006. After acquiring Konica Minolta’s camera technology, Sony introduced the α100, an SLR that used the Minolta A mount.
2010. The NEX-3 and NEX-5 introduced the E mount, with APS-C sensors.
October 2013. The α7 and α7R were released as the first full-frame mirrorless cameras with interchangeable lenses.
Later 2010s and 2020s. Sony moved its focus fully to the E mount. The A-mount SLR and SLT cameras are now part of history.
Systems and mounts
E mount. One mount for all Sony mirrorless cameras, both APS-C and full frame. Lenses marked “FE” cover a full-frame sensor. Lenses marked “E” are made for APS-C, and on a full-frame body the camera switches to an APS-C crop.
A mount (history). The SLR mount inherited from Minolta, used on Sony cameras from 2006.
Cinema Line. Video cameras with E mount, such as the FX series.
Compact and vlogging. The ZV series and RX compacts.
Current Alpha cameras
Cameras shown on Sony’s Alpha Universe website (alphauniverse.com), checked on November 3, 2026:
Professional full frame: α1 II, α9 III.
Full frame: α7R VI and α7R V, α7 V and α7 IV, α7C II, α7CR, α7S III.
APS-C: α6700 and α6400.
Video and vlogging: FX series (Cinema Line), ZV-E1, ZV-E10 II.
Sony often keeps older models on sale next to new ones, so a model on this list may already have a successor.
Photographers who used Sony
Photographers in Photopedia who have worked with Sony include Jose Villa, Trey Ratcliff, Christopher Anderson and David Maitland. Bob Martin photographs sports with a Sony α9.
Sources: Sony α (Wikipedia), Sony E-mount (Wikipedia), alphauniverse.com (current range, November 2026).
Last updated: November 2026
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